Catalytic material.



MAX SOHROEDER, OF I-IAMBORN, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR OF 'iWVO-THIRDS TO THEAOTIEN-GESELLSOHAFT FUR ZINK-INDUSTRIE, VORMALS TVILHELM GRILLO, OFOBERHAUSEN, GERMANY, AND AUGUST HEOKSOHER, OF NElV YORK, N. Y.

CATALYTIC MATERiAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 636,925, dated November14, 1899. Original application filed October 19, 1898, Serial No.694,019. Divicle'dandthis application filed September 22, 1899. SerialNo 731,338- (N specimens.)

To all whom it may concern: 4,566 Winkler describes a special processfor Be it known that I, MAX SCHROEDER, a the chemical application ofplatinum upon Germansubject,residingatHamborn,Rheinthese bases, whichprocess he likens to the land, Germany, have invented certain new finalstep in the dyeing of a fiber in the dye- 5 and useful Improvements inCatalytic Matevat. Moreover, from later publications it rials; andIdohereby declare the following to appears that for the production of thesebe a full, clear, and exact description of the platiiiized contactbodies there has always invention, such as Will enable others skilledbeen employed a base either molded to shape in the art to which itappertains to make and or otherwise in integral or solid condition.

IO use the same. The present invention contemplates the In anapplication for Letters Patent of the subdivision or dilution ofthe'platinum in a United States filed by me October 19, 1898, differentmanner and by other means,where- Serial No. 694,019, of which thepresent apby in a very simple way contact masses of plication is adivision, I have described and extraordinary subdivision may be obtained1 5 claimed the production and utilization of a which far exceed inefficiency those heretocontact mass for catalytic processes, whereinfore employed. the catalytic agent is present in a fine state Instead ofthe solid or integral bases hereof subdivision within a carrier orvehicle of inbefore referred to employment is made of soluble salts, sothat when it is desired to rethe soluble salts of the alkalies, of thealka- 2o generate the material or recover the catalytic line earths, ofthe earths, and of the metals,

agent therefrom for further use that purpose which salts for theproduction of the contact may be effected by dissolving out the solublemass are to be dissolved in water and then salts from the contact body.The present mixed with a solution of the finely-divided application isintended to claim the product platinum salt. The mixture of thesolutions 25 v1. 6., the contact body itself. is then to be evaporatedand the resulting In the art of recovering sulphuric acid or salt crustsdried and broken up to about a sulphuric anhydride (80,.) by thecatalytic or uniform granular size. The powder which is contact methodplatinum has shown itself as formed during this reducing or breaking-upan especially-effective substance above all operation is to be dissolvedanew in water 0 others for producing the desired result. and treated asbefore until all of the mate- Inasmuch as platinum, even infinely-dirial has been converted into an appropriate vided condition, isof too small volume to act condition of grains or particles. Thismaeffectively throughout in a large current of terial is adapteddirectly for filling the cylingases containing sulphurous anhydride (S0ders or other apparatus employed in carry- 35 and oxygen, resort wassoon had to the exing out the contact process. The separation pedient ofsuperimposing the metal upon an of the metallic platinum in the finestsubdiinert or comparatively inert base, so as to visionbetween themolecules of thesalts servspread the metal out over a large surface. ingas vehicles for the platinum takes place Pumice-stone was at firstproposed for this of itself upon heatingt'. 6., upon the start- 40purpose and appeared especially applicable ing of the contact process.

thereto on account ofits numerous cavities. It will be apparent that thesalts serving 0 Winkler developed the subject further and as vehiclesfor the finely-divided platinum ascertained that almost allloosely-porous will only remain unchanged during the conbodies areadapted to serve for the contact tact process, provided they are eitherstable 45 substance proper, especially asbestos, and sulphates orprovided they contain an acid also mineral wool, infusorial earth, clay,and which-as, for instance, phosphoric acid-is (Where, as in certaincontact processes, a high stronger at a low red heat than the sulphurictemperature is not required) even organic acid which forms during theprocess. Other fibrous materials. In German Patent No. saltsas, forinstance, chlorides or carbon ateswill at the beginning of the processbe at once converted into sulphates with development of their acids.Inasmuch as this results for the most part in an alteration of thestructure and injury to the firm cohesion of the individual pieces, itis advisable to employ stable salts from the beginning.

As an ekaniple of particular proportions for obtaining a contact massinvolving my invention, but without in any way intending to limit myselfthereto, I may state that in some instances the contact mass may beproduced by dissolving in the smallest quantity of water one hundredpounds of sulphate of potassium, one hundred pounds of sulphate ofmagnesium, and one hundred pounds of sulphate of aluminium and adding tothe solution ten pounds of chloride of platinum likewise dissolved inwater, whereupon the mixture is evaporated, dried, and granulated, asdescribed.

It will be understood that instead of the single salts mixtures thereof,or double saltsas, for instance, alumcan be employed. Furthermore,instead of platinum other metals of the platinum group may be usedwhich, however, in view of their great rarity, come less intoconsideration in practice.

The technological advantages of this new contact material consist notonly in the simple manner of producing it, but also in its highlysuperior efficiency. The platinum is in a condition ofextraordinarily-fine subdivision and appears to be effective in theinterior of the pieces to a degree not less than in the exterior layers.This may be due to the great porosity produced by the driving off of thewater of crystallization.

The solubility of the salts within which the catalytic agent is occludedin contact bodies made in accordance with my invention is particularlyof value when the ordinary f u rnacegases from sulphur ores are employedfor the contact process. Inasmuch as the furnacegases, even afterpurifying, still contain traces of dust, the contact bodies in thecourse of time become covered with thick impenetrable layers, whichdiminish their eificiency. To

lay bare the surface, it is only then necessary to stir the contact bodyin water and to evaporate the salt solution thus formed. The dust isthereby dispersed throughout the entire mass and can no longer diminishthe penetrability of the surface. Finally the dust may be readilyseparated from the platinum after dissolving out the salts which serveas the vehicle. For this purpose it is only necessary to boil withconcentrated muriatic acid the slime which has been separated from thesalt solution, whereupon the particles of dust pass into solution, whilethe platinum-black remains behind in a pure condition.

It is of course obvious that inert material (such as infusorial earth,sand, and the like) may be present in the contact body, provided it isnot present in such proportion as to interfere with the action of thesoluble salts in holding the particles together, and thereby serving ascarriers or vehicles for the catalytic agent.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is- 1. A contact bodyfor use in catalytic processes, comprising salt crusts, containing aplatinum salt distributed through a mass of one or more other solublesalts which serve as a carrier or vehicle therefor; substantially asdescribed.

2. A contact body for use in catalytic processes, comprising a catalyticsubstance distributed through a mass of one or more soluble saltsserving as a carrier or vehicle therefor; substantially as described.

3. A contact body for use in catalytic processes, comprising a catalyticsubstance distributed through a mass of one or more soluble salts stablein the presence of hot S0 and O and serving as a carrier or Vehicle forthe catalytic substance; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MAX SGHROEDER.

Witnesses:

WALDEMER HAUP'l, WILLIAM MAYNER.

